Sunrise

Summary:
It has been sixteen years since Meg Cullen was kidnapped by the Volturi. Sixteen years of Edward and Bella mourning their dead daughter...supposedly killed by the Pack. Then, Meg returns to Forks. Only then does the race for answers (and survival) begin... ~SEQUEL TO MY STORY "CHOICE"~EPILOGUE: BRILLIANCE IS UP!"BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES." ~MACBETH

9. Chapter 9: Motions

I delicately closed to the door to my car, picking my way up towards the front porch. Cocking my head to the side, I examined Edward and Bella’s temporary home. It was relatively small, painted a shade of pale blue. A rose trellis wove its way up the side of the house, its red tint almost jealously staining the remaining colors. I let out a small sigh, clearing my head of all thoughts…I knew what I had to do.

“Alice!” a voice called, the door flying open with a bang.

Bella was out in a second, flinging herself into my arms. It still took me a while to adjust to her not being human…she hadn’t changed much. With a pang, I was reminded of how she’d looked when I’d returned to Forks, before the disastrous events of Edward’s attempted suicide.

“Bella,” I said happily, kissing the side of the cheek.

She drew back, enough for me to scrutinize her. I hadn’t seen her in four years…they being the recluses of the Cullen family. Her pale, heart-shaped face regarded me earnestly, framed by dark ringlets. What natural beauty she had as a human was no enhanced...making her face resemble that of a porcelain doll, albeit a rather mournful one. Her eyes were the most unnerving of all, though. Instead of changing to the customary topaz, they’d stayed brown…flecked with gold.

I gave a smile, looping my arm through hers. “So how are things?”

She shook her head. “Fine…I guess.”

Her eyes looked troubled, but I had no time to press her.

“Hello, Alice,” Edward said as we entered the house.

“Oh, it’s Edward the recluse! We were beginning to think you'd sprouted a hunched back and shut yourself into a tower! How nice to see you again!” I said brightly, shielding my mind with teasing words. Had he remembered our last conversation..?

His face wrinkled a bit. He probably hadn't liked my hunchback allegory. “Charming as always,” he said swiftly.

I turned towards Bella, who was watching our exchange with an amused glance. “Bella, will you show me the rest of the house?” I begged, giving her my most innocent look.

“Um…alright.” She led me away from Edward, but I caught a momentary glimpse of his face.

His eyes said everything. “What are you playing at, Alice?”

I turned away sharply, letting Bella drag me down the hall.

“How’s Jasper?” she asked absentmindedly.

“He’s fine,” I answered shortly, pushing his image out of my head. He hadn’t wanted me to come…

“That’s good.”

“Mmmm. Bella,” I caught her hands, turning her towards me. “I was so sorry to hear about Charlie.”

Pain flared in her molten eyes, but then it flickered and died. “Thanks,” she whispered.

This was my moment, my chance. I tightened my grip on her hands. “Bella…I need to tell you something. M-…”

“Love, have you shown Alice the parlor yet?”

Not fast enough. I turned to see Edward leaning against the door frame, a light smile on his lips for Bella. But his eyes were wild, shooting sparks of fire. Anger clouded the topaz color…so much that the irises looked red. He was doing everything in his power to keep controlled…

“No, I haven’t,” Bella’s eyes roved between us, not missing the tension. “But what did you want to tell me, Alice?”

I didn’t turn to look at her; I was rooted to the spot. “Nothing. It wasn’t important.”

“Okay…” Bella said, letting go of my arm. She stepped between Edward and I, serving as a buffer. I followed her past my brother, but called out mentally to him.

“You’re being an idiot. You need to believe me! Just let me tell her…”

“Don’t you dare, Alice. Or…” his words came out in a hiss, far too low for Bella to hear. He trailed off menacingly and I didn’t dare question him further; I’d never seen him this angry before.

I minced past him, rage lighting through me, towards Bella, who was watching us keenly. I couldn’t do any more. My only hope was for Bella to realize…for her to realize that Meg was still alive. Or for Edward to finally see…to let go of his pain and tell her. Until then, I was alone.

Alone to save Meg from the evil that was gathering on the horizon.

MEG’S POV

“How long have you been sixteen?” I asked Jake suddenly. We were sitting on the La Push beach, watching the waves crash against the sand.

He gave a short laugh. “A while.”

“So, you don’t age until you…imprint?” The concept was still kind of foreign to me.

Jake nodded. “Yeah.”

“But Bella…”

“I don’t know, alright?” he snapped.

I let him be for a while, feeling an intense surge of sadness whilst looking at Jacob. He looked so lonely…an island unto himself.

I leaned my head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

The emotions raging through him were almost tangible, and I knew he was debating whether to turn away my “pity.”

He slung an arm across my shoulders. “You remind me a lot of her sometimes. You could be her daughter or something.”

I gave a small smile; that was probably the highest compliment you could ever get from Jacob Black. We sat like this for a while, and another question floated into my head.

“Do you mind me asking another question?”

He shook his head.

“Um…if werewolves can imprint, can vampires too?”

He tensed, and I knew the peaceful mood was shattered. I lifted my head off his shoulder…watching him intently.

“I guess so. Bells mentioned something once…they have a different name for it, though. Something in Italian…it means ‘singer.’”

My mind felt disoriented. “La tua cantante,” I whispered.

“That’s it,” he continued tersely, oblivious to my discomfort. “Well, I’m guessing it’s similar to imprinting. Complete devotion to your mate, the feeling of eternity…but knowing it’s with her. If she’s taken away, watching your life slip away…without meaning, without love,” His voice had taken on a wistful tone, and I knew we weren’t talking about a hypothetical case anymore. “That’s how he felt,” Jacob hissed.

I knew the “he” was Edward Cullen.

Ambrosi…

Suddenly, before I had time to ponder it, Jake’s head swung around, a low snarl escaping from his throat. I saw a tall, dark figure turning away from us, disappearing from view back into town.

“Who was that?” I asked in a low voice.

He didn’t answer.

“Tell me, Jacob,” I commanded.

He turned towards me, face weary. “It was Quil…a friend of mine.” His voice was taut, and I could tell he was keeping something from me.

“What’s wrong?”

He sighed. “The pack doesn’t…trust you very much,” he said delicately.

I felt a stab of pain, hurt traveling up my spine. “Why not?” I asked coldly.

Jake looked at me brokenly, his dark eyes full of pain.

“You can tell me.”

“Well, do you remember that day in the woods?”

I bristled. “Yes.”

“They think you were the one who made me collapse.”

“I told you, Jake, I didn’t do anything. You made a lunge for me, I rolled away…you fell.” The lie slipped easily from my tongue, but I was having a hard time convincing myself…

Jacob was silent.

“You don’t agree with them, do you?” I asked softly.

He turned to look at me. “Isabella, you have no idea how much I want to believe you. It’s just…something doesn’t add up.”

I leapt off the log, the anger coursing through me. “What? You think I’m in league with the Volturi? That I’ll betray you and the pack as soon as I get the chance?”

His silence said everything.

I turned away, taking off at a mad rush down the beach. I felt the tears gather in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I heard Jacob call my name, but I didn’t listen. As I blindly stumbled out of La Push towards Forks, the realization sunk in.

I was alone in a strange world. Without anyone to trust.

AMBROSI’S POV

The church bells tolled midnight…that darkest hour of mystery. I pulled the dark cap over my eyes, surveying my face in the mirror. Everything was ready. I glanced out the window, watching the stars twinkle merrily in the night sky. I crossed towards it, planning to slam it shut. Instead, I found myself leaning against the case…letting the dark whisper its words to me.

“Having second thoughts, Ambrosi?” a painful voice asked behind me.

I turned sharply to face Jane. “Of course not.”

She took another step towards me. “You remember the plan, don’t you?”

I nodded, looking away her eyes. I heard the soft swish of her cloak as she came towards me.

“Remember, Ambrosi, your life hangs in the balance of this. Both of your lives…”

I wrenched away from her, moving swiftly out of my room…away from her burning eyes.

“Both your lives…” her voice echoed behind me.

I looked out into the inky blackness, pulling the cap over my eyes. I would not fail them.